NU’s Alyssa Solomon. UAAP PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—Alyssa Solomon believes their elimination round losses to La Salle prepared National University in their finals rematch as it defends its throne starting in Game 1 of the UAAP Season 85 women’s volleyball tournament on Sunday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
After a perfect 16-0 campaign last year to end a 65-year title drought, the Lady Bulldogs’ title-retention bid became tougher as the Angel Canino-led Lady Spikers’ turned the tables and beat them twice without dropping a single set in the elimination round.
But since the back-to-back setbacks, the reigning champions found their groove, winning seven straight matches including a 22-25, 25-22, 25-12, 25-15 victory over No. 3 Adamson in the Final Four on Wednesday.
“Yung mga talo namin, na-ready na kami kung paano bumawi. Kung paano maging compose. Kung paano i-execute yung mga dapat i-execute sa mga laro,” said Solomon, who unleashed 21 points.
(Our losses prepared us how to redeem ourselves, how to be composed, and how to execute (our game plan and preparation) for the match.)
NU Lady Bulldogs. UAAP PHOTO
Solomon, the reigning Best Opposite Spiker, stressed they have to look at every possibility and the tendencies of La Salle, knowing that it will be a much tougher title series.
“We have to prepare ourselves because it won’t be an easy series. We know that both teams will keep on fighting,” Solomon said in Filipino.
“We can learn from their movements and we can apply it to ourselves. We have to be confident, show a strong heart, and lessen our errors in that game,” she added.
Like her teammate Bella Belen, Solomon said they have to find a way to stop Canino, who has been the game-changer for La Salle this season.
“It will be another exciting game against them. Of course, we faced them in a couple of matches. We know that Angel will give her best at every single rally. We have to start to prepare well in training and apply it in the game,” Solomon said.